Thanks for the reviews ( I would have updated sooner but the Q,A,Z and1 buttons on my keyboard weren't working. Don't know why not. As all my passwords have an a in them I couldn't log onto anything so couldn't post. Anyway, now have nice new keyboard and chapter two.

Disclaimers: Do I really have to? Seriously? Hands up anyone thick enough to think I own anything?

Chapter two: Waiting

Connor MaCloed ran as if his life depended on it. Why could he never get hold of Duncan when it mattered? Still cursing his clansman's absence Connor ran up to the old warehouse. He couldn't feel another Immortals presence. One bit of luck. He did slow though. Immortals weren't above hiring mortal help and the last thing Connor wanted was to run headlong into someone he didn't want to.

The warehouse was quiet. Very quiet. Connor didn't like it. He looked at his watch. 4.45pm. No time. Throwing caution to the wind Connor walked quickly through the warehouse, scanning the room as he went. Nothing. There was a door on the far side and Connor headed straight for it. He tried to open it, but it was locked. Connor frowned at the door. He could feel..

With one swift kick the door flew open. Connor paused briefly, his breath caught in his throat, then he hurried to Richie's side.

'So much blood,' Connor thought grimly as he felt for a pulse. He didn't feel very reassured when he felt just how weak the pulse was. His pale complexion and how still he was weren't good signs either. Connor sliced through the ropes that still bound Richie's wrists and ankles together. He wrapped his scarf tightly around the wound, hoping to stem the blood flow a little. He then covered Richie with his coat and ran full pelt for the nearest phonebox.

Five minutes later Connor was back at Richie's side, holding his hand and willing him to live.

"C'mon Richie, just hold on a little longer," Connor was saying, not able to take his eyes off the blade still imbedded in Richie's chest. How the hell was he going to tell Duncan about this?

The paramedics and police arrived within minutes. Connor gave a quick statement, leaving out as much as he could, while the paramedics loaded Richie onto a stretcher. They asked Connor if he wanted to ride in the ambulance or follow behind. As he didn't have a car with him Connor traveled in the ambulance with Richie.

Once at the hospital Richie was rushed straight through to the ER leaving Connor pacing the waiting room restlessly. After a few minutes he went to the payphones and tried the Antique store.

The answer machine clicked on after a few rings.

"Duncan, it's Connor," Connor said hoping he sounded calm. "I am at St. Peters hospital with Richie. He's been hurt. Get here as soon as you can." Connor replaced the receiver and resumed his pacing.

About half an hour later a doctor came out to tell Connor Richie was now in surgery and promised to keep him updated.

Connor went to the canteen briefly to get some strong coffee before returning to the waiting room.

Connor hated hospital waiting rooms. He hated them even more when someone he cared about was on the other side of the doors.

Admittedly he'd only met Richie twice. Well, met probably wasn't the right word. He'd seen him in passing the night he broke into Duncan's store and then not long after that when Duncan had pulled him out of the river. Connor had never really spoken to Richie, but he had listened to Duncan talk about the kid for months now. Connor felt he knew him.

Connor also knew Duncan loved Richie like a son and that made him family. The thought had Connor getting to his feet and pacing the room again.

Duncan would never forgive himself if Richie died at such a young age and was thrown into the Game so soon. Hell, chances were Duncan wouldn't forgive himself for Richie being hurt like this anyway.

As if on cue Connor felt the presence of another Immortal and then heard his name shouted.

"Where's Richie?" Duncan demanded without preamble.

"Surgery. Where have you been?" Connor asked.

"At the airport. Tessa's gone to Paris for a week. The flight was delayed so we had something to eat first," Duncan said dismissively. "Why is Richie in surgery?"

"Come and sit down," Connor said leading the way to some empty plastic orange chairs.

"What's going on Connor?" Duncan asked as soon as they were seated.

"Richie was stabbed. He's lost a lot of blood and needed surgery. I don't know anything else about his condition."

Duncan's face was tight and pale. "Who stabbed him? When? Why?"

"An Immortal," Connor said and passed a crumpled note to Duncan.

"I came by to see you. Good job I did. I found that note at 4.30. I went to find them and found Richie bleeding to death on the floor.

Duncan read the note and paled even more.

"I have your son." Duncan read aloud. "I will kill him at 4pm if you do not come to the old warehouse by the docks. Don't forget your sword."

There was no name.

"It's my fault," Duncan said screwing up the note.

"Why?" Connor asked. "Did you stab him?"

"You know what I mean!" Duncan said angrily clenching his fist. "An Immortal comes for me and Richie gets hurt."

"It's not your fault Duncan," Connor said firmly.

"I got back to the apartment twenty minutes ago. If you hadn't come by Richie would be dead now."

"Duncan, you have been alive long enough to know that 'what ifs' are self destructive." Connor said. "And in this case unnecessary. He will be ok and we will find the man who did this."

"I'll find him," Duncan corrected.

"We," Connor insisted. "I'm involved now, like it or not. But," he raised hand to silence the forthcoming protests from Duncan. "We will discuss it later."

Duncan left his protests unsaid for the moment.

"Have you spoken to the doctor?" He asked instead.

"Only briefly," Connor said. He felt more able to deal with the situation now Duncan was here. He could focus his energies on looking after Duncan instead of worrying about Richie. "He didn't tell me much."

Duncan marched over to the reception, intent on getting some information on Richie's condition. Luckily Tessa had had the foresight to have herself and Duncan put down as Richie's next of kin.

When all they could tell him was Richie was still in surgery and the doctor would be out to talk to them as soon as there was anything new to tell, Connor watched as Duncan took over from him trying to pace a hole in the floor for an hour and a half. He'd then remembered suddenly to phone France and leave a message for Tessa to phone as soon as she got the message. Hopefully Richie would be out of surgery by the time her flight landed and Connor had heard enough about Tessa to know she'd have something to say if Duncan hadn't told her immediately that Richie was hurt.

Duncan had then resumed his quest to remove all signs of polish from the floor.

Four and a half hours after Richie had been taken into surgery a grim faced doctor called Duncan's name.